Tueday at Men's Health Tower.

I was sad this was my last day!

The office is situated in such a lovely place, on a cobbled street right in the heart of Soho and just a street away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street. There are red phone boxes and trees mixed right in with the uber modern buildings, coffee shops and Champers bars.

I loved that the street was always full of black cabs, I learnt pretty quick that they'd rather run me down than let me cross the street...

The third article I was writing was about finding sex online. So, i'm sat as the 'newbie freelancer' checking out some of the naughtiest full kink on webpages out there. What doesn't help is that i'm on the designers Mac meaning the screen is indeed the size of my house.

I loved writing this article as it was something the webpage hadn't seen before.

As we are the technological age I was responsible for updating the mags Twitter page (something i logged onto once and thought so utterly twatty that I abandoned in a huff...hmm) So, I suggested a Facebook page, which Men's Health do not have yet (official anyway!) So I spent the morning uploading articles, info, subscription details and links to the web page! We have had a lot of members already, and I have taken on the responsibility of updating it from home.

I was very sad to leave the offices on the third day. I couldn't see myself at that kind of mag full time, I think having a passion about health/fitness/muscle building is a must...and I like my doughnuts too much. However, I am going to ask to do some more lifestyle articles, men always want to know about sex, relationships and clothes don't they!

Wonderful experience and I'd do it all over again!

My second day at Men's Health

The second day went much smoother than the first, as to be expected! My second peice of writing was well underway, entitled "Honey, I want a boob job". The peice advised men how to deal with their girlfriends plastic surgery worries! (Sad but it seems common place nowerdays!)

I got a reply from a fantastic sexologist and relationship expert Yvonne Fulbright which really helped shape my article! (It seems mentioning you are freelancing for Men's Health packs quite a punch when asking for help)

What became obvious was my need to learn photoshop! I mastered re-sizing photos and the basics required for uploading articles which was really interesting to see! I don't see webpages as just colourful sources now, but realise the work that goes in to them behind the scenes!

One of my tasks was to trawl the forums and find quotes for the newsletter, which goes out to thousands upon thousands of people (pressure to make the info 100% perfect!). Working online at Men's Health meant looking after the e-mails and forums linked to the webpage. Because of the nature of the magazine they have some very dedicated readers, and some very silly ones....Fridays has become "willy fridays" so we had to delete a lot of willy-based pictures come Monday! Of course I found this highly amusing.

I bumped into the editor whilst humming and making tea (or being a bit confused as to where the tea bags were....) He seemed like a lovely chap, asked me how everything was going and seemed very chilled out! I was proud of myself for lack of brain farts and normal conversation...always helps.

Hit the hay at about 11 so shattered, ready for another 6am start!

If you don’t like the soppy or sentimental here’s the time to fill your eyes and ears with cotton wool.

I think there are a few key people you meet in your lifetime, who change you irrevocably in one way or another. Some are shitty and break your heart into a million pieces, some fill it with vodka, and some say things which will stick with you for a long, long time.

One such person of mine is G. I’m still not sure university was the thing for me, but I don’t regret a second of it. G shaped me, myself and I. She was my partner in crime, flat mate and general all round blagger, drinker, dancer, joke cracker and fabulous arse of a wonderful person.

If I believed in souls, she’s got a cracking one.

G has recently informed me she is moving to America. Is it possible to mourn a friendship like you do a relationship?

Think my hearts a bit fuzzy.

If my life were to have a theme tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfosF1hrOvw

6am- Immediately thought I should change my alarm ring tone from Bloc Party "This is a brand new problem...a problem without..".

Between 6am and 7am I faffed, blow dried, painted, wrangled and ironed my way into an outfit somewhat suitable for my day.

7:40am Standing on the platform at the train station, looking around wondering where in god's name do all these rich, successful aftershave clad, court heeled men and women come from; as far as I was aware Kettering and the surrounding area was only home to alcoholics and people with 6 toes.

7:41am Train. Seat. Magazine from cover to cover.

9am: Walking along Oxford Street. Have become a bit of a pro on the Underground, zipping in and out of people, pushing the elderly and children out of the way as I go. (I kid.) Loving the hustle and bustle, it's taking my mind of the mess of butterfly carcasses that is my stomach.

9:15 Sat in the window of Pret with the hugest vat of morning tea and a chocolate brownie, watching everyone walking by. Don't think MH would approve of my choice of breakfast. :)

10am I was sat on a huge leather couch, the kind you would picture beforehand. The building is huge and I'm on the 6th floor.

The team, and A who is looking after me is lovely! Welcoming, wonderful and so much more relaxed than I ever expected. I was set to work on 7 pitches, 3 of them were picked as articles to be written, one per day.

The first I was set to was a piece on men's mascara. Tricky, sticky situation if not done properly!

By the end of the day I had been shown lots of photo shop tricks, written my first piece and generally familiarised myself with the office quirks and foibles..

I cannot wait for Monday morning, bring on 6am.

I am currently compiling an e-mail to the jelly-fantastic gentlemen at Bompas & Parr. They are one of the world leading experts on everything concerning the wobbly stuff. They're not simply kid's party material but have made jelly for Disney World, the London Festival of Architecture and Selfridges.

I'm going to be quizzing them on how to make the perfect vodka jelleys for ilovemygrub.com.

If you want a jelly mould of any shape or size they start at £300.00...eek!

Curiosity killed the...English student

I'm more than a bit curious about how my day will pan out for the first day of my Men's Health trial! As long as I don't spontaneously combust I have this To Do list...

Outfit

I have a zillion ideas, all of which look much better in my mind than they do on my bod. I want it to be smart but also funky and comfy, at the moment I have simple dark purple top, high waisted black skirt, huge bag (just to carry those things you 'might' need like spare tights, mints, tissues by the truck load, phone charger...) and matching accessories (a ring the size of Pluto. On another note, why do men always hate those?Hmm)

Travel

Tickets need to be pur-chased for three days tomorrow! Once you have those tickets there is no going back. Remember not to loose/scrunch/dribble on them when you fall asleep on the way home.

Feature Ideas

Fore armed is fore warned, right? I know I'll be asked to come up with a lot of pitches and send them over in a specific format, so I'll be thinking, writing and re writing them all down today and tomorrow! Take some pressure off the fizzing brain.

Nose

Check out their whole webpage, read previous subjects, have a look through the forum and generally make myself Men's Health.co.uk Master Mind. Not too much pressure then?

I'm sure there are many things my brain fart is making me forget...this list i'm sure will be added to tenfold!

Gin and Giggles

This was the feature I helped most with...

Workie Scum

Hopefully I can start working my way up the list of contributors.... :)

Sending e-mails asking huge magazines to employ a lowly student doesn't normally work; however out of the zillion I sent one wonderful magazine did get back to me offering me an interview. I was stunned, excited, stunned and then bricking it.

My granny always says "You don't ask you don't get". Them old'uns know a thing or two, don't they?

The role is editorial contributor for Men's Health. I'll be joining them in old Landaan Taan (without the attempt at and Nooorf Landan accents I might add) on Friday the 7th of August.

Now, I'm not holding up much hope for this, it is only my second experience in the editorial environment so I'm going to give it 100% and take everything I can from it!

I have been reading and re-reading the work specification sent through from A, the lovely lady who will be my boss for the length of my interview. I'm familiarising myself with the website constantly, have signed up for their e-mail newsletters and have been reading the constant stream of forum updates; it seems they have a very lively group of regulars.

Their offices are right in central London, so should be much easier to find than those of Front, who were hidden away in a mystical street I'm sure even Santa can't locate.

During my time there they have offered to buy three pieces of work off me; one per day and I'm ecstatic about this! I sincerely hope my noggin can keep up with my enthusiasm and I can really impress them!

Erms, Ahhs and Haha's

My brain is mashed potato today.

Today I walked into my local Co-Op to buy some last minute "we-live-in-the-country-so-everything-closes-at-four-might-need-pizza-or-ice-cream-tonight" supplies. Along with the inevitable Sunday buys like 4 million cal Phish Food I got the latest issue of FRONT.

Right there in black and white is my name under "workie scum", a strangely proud moment of mine I must say! The usual guy who calls in the products had yet to strike gold with blagging any gin for their boozy test feature so I has been on a mission...
Some of the higher end distilleries and companies got an flowery edited version of the big blag, needless to say I didn't mention it was called "Wasted" and their lovely gin would be marked out of five and probably likened to poop of some kind.

What amazed me was the speed at which the PR companies send out their packages; there was a biker man rather muffeledly asking for me within a few hours, in his hands were jingling bottles. Great, along with gin came smiles in the office. Sadly the replica they were going to make of me out of empty bottles has yet to be made, but i'm still holding out hope...

Of course the official taste test was an office full of twenty somethings getting drunk on a Friday afternoon, but who am I to complain; it's great to see something in print using my quotes and products I'd used a bit'a nouse to get! Right there in black and white was what I had been preparing for since my teens, booze reviews..."It's okay on the way down but the aftertaste is something like an old sock, or licking an old piano". Tears of joy at this point.

Sure you'll agree my review was very professional.

Book Reviews

Good Morning :)

The lovely ladies sent me a mock-up of my review of Belle De Jour-The Intimate Adventures of a Call Girl.

Their audience are women on the go, so all the features have to be "work break safe". This proved a bit tricky when discussing one of the most sexually frank and risque writers going...